The biggest question I had about school was whether Millie Janalee would need for me to homeschool her...something I said I would never do...or if her school would start back with in person class.  Thankfully, our city schools did decide to return to in traditional schooling with a virtual option.  We opted for in person.  Again, I really hated the virtual learning for my family.  Technology just causes so many problems here.  

But again, things are still different.  We are not allowed in the public school buildings at all.  Millie Janalee had a virtual Meet the Teacher time.  It wasn't the same, and Millie Janalee is not the best Zoom participant either. But, I was glad to see the faces of the ones who will take care of her this year!

 

 

 

Millie Janalee started at a new school this year.  Grades 3-5 are in a different school than K-2.  This had lots of us third grade mamas a little uneasy dropping our kids off with people we didn't know at a building we had never entered.

 

A friend of mine and I were asked to serve as PTO president and vice president this year...which was completely random!  But also perfect.  We were both very excited to be involved during a time when involvement was a privilege.  Because of the various projects we worked on before school, I was able to be in the building, see Millie Janalee's classroom, and get familiar with some of the staff.  

 The night before school, we had signs placed in the front of the school to welcome students the next morning.  So we loaded the family up to check on things, and I was able to get Millie Janalee out to see her school one last time before the chaos of the first day of school.  

Third grade?!  I don't know how it happened!

I spent the rest of the night getting clothes laid out, the table set, and backpacks and lunchboxes ready for her first day (and Smith's third day)!

When I went to wake up Millie Janalee, she said "Will I get to see Abigail?"  When I told her she would get to see her friends today, she jumped straight up and was ready for breakfast and pictures in record time!  Her daddy baked muffins while I served the fruit.  But I'm pretty sure she still pulled the muffins in a bag from the pantry. Ha!

You will also notice this is the year of NO hairbow.  Let's have a moment of silence here.

Her principal and assistant principal did such a great job welcoming the kids with a festive and calm morning.  They had music, signs, and greeted everyone so enthusiastically.  But it was still calm, so no one felt overwhelmed.  I was that mom who stood around with my camera and got photos at every photo spot I could find.  Thankfully, Millie Janalee was in the mood to cooperate.

 

 

Then it was time, and she was ready to go see her friends!  My big girl walking into her big school during the pandemic...unafraid and ready to start.  We could all learn a thing or two from our kids these days.  

 

 

 

Thankful for another school year with sweet teachers and friends!

Back to School - COVID Style!

 We held our breath all summer.  I planned and gathered all the information I could possibly need in case school didn't start back.  I am thankful for virtual learning for many students who need it, but I really was not interested in my kids sitting in front of technology all day every day.  So I visited my sister-in-law to get all her homeschooling advice, I did my own research, I took notes, and I set up a semi-homeschool area in our house.

But thankfully, school did resume!!  Our public schools delayed a few days, so Smith actually went back to school first.  I am so thankful for our precious preschool.  They have gone above and beyond to get our kids back safely.

 

 

Smith started KINDERGARTEN this year!! I can't believe how quickly these five years have gone by!  Smith is the most cheerful, expressive, playful, and energetic little person I know.  I am so happy to send him to these sweet teachers who I know will love every bit of that in him. 

 

Meet the teacher was a little odd at first.  But it's our new normal.  We all wore our masks.  We all had temperature checks when we arrived at our appointed time.  For a minute, I thought we weren't going to make it as Smith's temperature came up as 106 at the door! Haha!  A new thermometer did the trick and we were good to go!  

 

Mrs. Kathy Ferris

Mrs. Kathy Wallace

Ms. Lauren

Smith was so quiet and taking it all in.  None of us are used to him being shy.  But it had been a long five months since he had been in school, so it was a lot to get used to with masks and temp checks and new rules about where you can go and with how many.  But he was excited and so ready to be a big kindergartner!

A sign of the times

It was surreal.  But we were all so excited to get back to a routine with friends and schedules and a love of learning!

Last Days of School 2020

One of the hard parts of quarantine was schooling.  Although I enjoyed being able to channel my teacher side, I was so sad for Millie Janalee and Smith.  They missed their teachers and their friends.  They weren't able to finish out the year.  For Smith, this meant no spring program...and he had been singing around the house for weeks.  For Millie Janalee, it meant she will never step foot back into her school as a student.  Next year, she will move to another school building.  And we had just enjoyed her teachers so much this year, I wasn't ready for it to end.  I shed some tears over the whole thing.

The schools have worked so hard to make these kids feel special, and all the parents are so grateful!  This has been an opportunity to see how the teachers connect with our kids.  I have seen Millie Janalee's teacher read Charlotte's Web through her Google Classroom.  Her class had a couple "math nights" on Zoom with their teachers playing fun games.  Her Challenge teacher called regularly to check in.  Smith's teachers sent videos of the Letter of the Week and science experiments.  Millie Janalee and Smith's faces lit up when they got to see their teachers' faces.  And I loved feeling like a part of that!

As May drew near, and we realized going back to school just was not going to happen...the schools started working on fun plans. 

Our sweet preschool hosted a precious drive thru end of the year parade!  All the teachers from all the classes stood out and handed out treats as we stopped at each station.  They greeted the kids with smiles and excitement, and these littles were just beside themselves to see everyone! 

 

Smith was hanging out of the window talking to his classmates in the cars through the line.  It was the funniest thing to hear their conversations. Big sister even got treats! 

By the time we reached the end of the line and saw those kindergarten teachers doing their "Good job!  Good job!" cheer, I had tears streaming down my face.  It was just such a precious time.  I was heartbroken for the kindergartners who didn't get to finish out such a special year with those fabulous teachers, but I was also touched by these precious memories made.  Just love all around!

Millie Janalee's teachers did something special too.  They planned a drive by!  They took an afternoon and drove by all 42+ houses around town.  Our house isn't even in the district, much less on the same side of town as the rest of the students.

So we tried to make them feel as special as we knew how when they finally made their way out to us!  Millie Janalee was so excited as we waited on them to round that corner.

They rounded the corner honking and hanging out their windows.  They had painted their cars and had huge smiles across their faces.  I knew they were tired, but they didn't show it.  If you want to earn a mama's heart...love her babies!

And that is what I have felt this school year...love.  I knew my wild man Smith was loved no matter what.  They looked for the good in him and saw the same sweet Smith I see.  Millie Janalee's teachers communicated with us all year.  They were grateful.  I was grateful.  And Millie Janalee loved school!  She formed new close friendships, and that was fun to watch as well. 

So the last days of school were sad.  But they were also filled with gratitude.  We took it all for granted.  Never again.  If this whole pandemic has taught us anything, it's that it can all be taken away quick.  Love on those who love your babies.  I know I plan to! 

I am thankful for the teachers all over who have shared their heart and kept loving their students.  What a difference that has made for us!

Quarantine Easter 2020

It was wonderful to have something to look forward to on our calendar!  Easter wasn't cancelled.  The Easter Bunny still found the kids, and there was a small bit of normalcy for a little while Easter morning. 

On a typical Easter morning, we would be rushing around getting fed, dressed, and loaded for a trip to Corinth for church at my home church.  However, since churches are still closed...we were able to spend a little time playing with toys from the Easter Bunny, enjoy cinnamon rolls as a family, and I was able to continue the preparations for Easter lunch.

There are a few things southern mamas take seriously.  One of those is Easter frocks and family photos.  So, we did get everyone cleaned up and dressed in the Easter clothes I ordered specifically for Easter.  Thankfully, there weren't too many complaints and the kids looks precious all dressed up!  It was a nice change from the pajamas and play clothes we wear every day these days.

Even Russ cooperated.  Easter Sunday was filled with the threat of tornadoes.  The weather was yucky, but there was a break in the rain!  And I saw a chance to snap that ever so important Easter family photo.  What you should know is that Russ is the only one with shoes on!  Ha!  I managed to keep my slippers on and the kids had on flip flops.  We call it business on the top and party on the bottom.

After our photo, we gathered together in the living room for our Easter service - a VERY different Easter service than we have ever had.  Snuggled together on the couch.

After church, we joined the rest of the family on a Zoom call!  Susu wanted a family Easter photo, so we got dressed up for it.  The second the picture was over, people started shedding clothes. Haha!  Happy Easter...quarantine style!

Then it was time for the big event - the big Easter lunch!  The moment I realized the big family Easter wasn't going to happen, I panicked.  All of a sudden, I was in charge of Easter!  I started gathering the recipes I needed and making the menu, trying to make this a special memory for Russ and me...and the kids. 

Our Easter menu included my mom's roast with potatoes and carrots, smothered green beans, cauliflower rice, cream corn, rolls, and strawberry pretzel salad.  I burned the roast.  But aside from that, it was a delicious meal!  Thankfully there were plenty of sides to make up for it.

We spent the rest of our Easter Sunday napping, laying around watching Matt Lauban and the weather expecting a tornado.  Thankfully, it was a false warning for us. 

Happy Easter, Covid-19!

Pre-Easter Fun

Easter proved to be a problem for this family.  If you've been around long enough, you know that Easter is our holiday. Here are some of the highlights from previous years.

So many of us mamas were disappointed to miss sweet Easter egg hunts and parties, the frilly Easter frocks, and church photos.

Smith's preschool teachers did a great job providing fun Easter activities that we all were able to enjoy together! Easter egg numbers match, alphabet carrots to feed the bunny, and more!  We also decorated eggs together.  Easter has always been such a busy time, and there were some perks of slowing down and really remembering the reason we celebrate.

We had some fun surprises pop up!  Buck and She She surprised the kids with a fun egg hunt.  They stopped by and hid 10 eggs filled with messages for the kids to find.  We had "been egged!"  The kids loved it and thought the notes were the best thing ever.  Not one question about candy!  We decided it was such a fun idea that we egged some of our favorite friends too!

Kay Kay called to let us know the Easter Bunny may be riding through her neighborhood.  So we ventured off to our very first social gathering since the quarantine began.  The kids weren't really sure what to do.  They just looked at each other for a little while.  I brought an egg hunt exercise activity and had them hunt one egg at a time so no one was touching.  Ha!  Then we sectioned off parts of the driveway for sidewalk chalk drawings.

The Saturday before Easter, Buck and She She told us the Easter Bunny was coming down their street too!  As it turned out, this was the real deal!  The kids spread out and waved as the bunny drove past.  He even stopped for a photo opp.

We decided to hang around a while, so we moved to the back yard.  Then, Susu and Pawpaw surprised us!  The Annual Smith Egg Hunt is serious.  It was a near devastating blow to forego the hunt altogether.  I won't lie...I was pouting internally.  Haha!  Susu and Pawpaw had arranged for the egg hunt to continue...one couple at a time.  So that's what we did.  We hunted our eggs...3 different egg hunts in a row.  Russ FINALLY won after 15 years of trying.  We decided it was because I was his only competition.  But a win is a win!

We didn't completely neglect the children.  Kay Kay brought their own giant Easter egg hunt for each family of children to do.  And they also assisted Russ during our egg hunt.  So I have determined his win wasn't really fair.

Although it wasn't our typical Smith Easter Egg Hunt...it was a fun variation.  No hugging.  No touching.  Six feet apart social distancing.  But the face time was MUCH NEEDED!!  Big thanks to Susu and Pawpaw for making it happen!

 An Easter to remember for sure!

Coronaschool

Our everyday life has been interrupted.

It's like someone made an announcement..."We interrupt normal programming to bring you family time at HOME where you actually have to be everything to all people in your home."

This includes our new role as teacher.

Millie Janalee attends our local public school, and Smith is still at our precious church preschool.  You would think one is obviously more important than the other.  However, Smith does start kindergarten next year.  And he is still learning letter sounds.  Both our school district and our preschool have worked tirelessly to help parents with "distance learning."  Our preschool teachers put together fabulous packets we pick up weekly and send videos with instruction, music, and even chapel.  Our public school district has set up a distance learning curriculum on Google Classroom where the children complete assignments each day, and they are able to submit assignments online as well.

There are some days we get an A++ on school.  Then there are days we do nothing at all.

One of my favorite days was St. Patrick's Day.  I started the day out with a fun St. Patty's Day breakfast, morning work laid out, and a schedule prepared for the day full of fun activities.

We had scavenger hunts, yoga for kids, crafts, recess, and a science experiment.  This is NOT our normal.  But it certainly was fun and made our day more enjoyable.  This was also before the school district started sending out specific assignments.  The official "distance learning" thing kinda stifled my fun teacher mode a little.

Our normal school routine starts with sleeping in.  The kids work on morning work during breakfast, giving me time to gather myself. I can shower if I want (but I usually don't - Ha!), read my Bible, and get myself some caffeine to start the day.  Once I check morning work, the kids can start their own school day.  Millie Janalee does her schoolwork online through Google Classroom. She has lessons and assignments to work through.  One of her teachers is reading through Charlotte's Web with them online and she has a math program called Prodigy to work through.  While Millie Janalee does this, Smith will get the iPad and freely go through any of the ABC Mouse programs...or he and I will sit down to work on one of the preschool activities his teachers have sent home.  I need to do this more than I do, because I do enjoy that one on one time with him.

One of the things I have loved including in our day is Bible time.  I'm ashamed to say that this has not been a normal part of our day.  We pray with our children and talk about things as they come up, but I have not set aside a scheduled Bible time to teach a lesson or teaching them to look up verses in their bibles....outside of reading Bible stories before bed.  We have enjoyed this time, and it usually happens during lunch on a regular school day.  We especially enjoyed Easter week, and reading each day about the days leading up to the Resurrection. 

In Deuteronomy, Moses is talking to the Isrealites after God has written the ten commandments.  He says in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  With all that is going on around us during this time, teaching your children about God and leading them to Jesus is the most important thing we can be doing.  It is our job as parents to minister to and disciple those right in front of us - in our homes.  Our ministry starts here.  So many children's ministers have been helping us by posting videos for us to share with our children.  We watch them together, look up verses, do the activities together if there is one, and talk about them.  I am so thankful for our local churches working overtime to feed their sheep during this unprecedented time.

After lunch, our day pretty much ends with art, piano practice, recess, Challenge assignments, and screen time [GASP!].  That's right.  I said it.

We are all doing great!  The stay at home mamas, the working mamas, the mamas barely keeping it together, the crafty moms, the stay at home dads, the grandparents...we are all doing GREAT!  At first, social media was in a frenzy with judgements.  Judgements about a lot of things.  But the mom shaming was certainly a part of that.  Here's how I see it.  I'll do me.  You'll do you.  And we are all on the same team!  Just mamas trying to survive using what we got.

While I am not winning at Coronaschool, I am thankful for the opportunity.  I do TRY to pep myself up each morning.  I fail a lot.  But we also have made some unforgettable memories...at least in my mind.

And this is one of the reasons I wanted to get back on here....writing about our time.  One day my kids will look back, and I want them to know I tried.  I may have failed miserably, but I did try and my intentions were good.

Just a mama trying to raise her family during a scary, uncertain, and chaotic time in our history.